Sylvia Gillilan (Plainview)

Sylvia Seal Patterson Gillilan, 94, of Rockwall entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 3, 2014. She was born August 4, 1920, in McLean, Texas, to O.M. Seal, Sr. and Euphemia Hines Seal. The Seal family moved to Plainview, Texas when Sylvia was a young girl. As a young woman, she fell in love and married L.C. Patterson and had one son. Several years after L.C.’s death, Sylvia married Jay Gillilan and had another son. After Sylvia and Jay retired, they built a home in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, where they lived until moving to Rockwall, Texas in 1987. Sylvia loved her church family at Lakeshore Church in Rockwall where for many years she was an active member of the Young at Heart. She enjoyed playing games, working puzzles, and studying the Bible. Her favorite verse was Matthew 11:28. She is survived by two children, James “Jim” Patterson and wife Sharon of Rosenberg, Texas, and Larry Gillilan and wife Nelda of Rockwall, Texas. Sylvia was “Nannie” to four grandchildren, Cynthia White and husband Steve of Kalispell, Montana, Wendy Ramirez and husband Luis of Houston, Texas, DaRon Gillilan and wife Christina of Rockwall, Texas, Lori Gillilan-Leal and husband Jaime of Rockwall, Texas. She had twelve great grandchildren, Justin White, Danielle Dickman, Joah White, Lacey Kiehn, Meghan White, Jaimee White, Casey White, Jackson Ramirez, Reese Ramirez, Sam Gillilan, Jack Gillilan, and Jacob Leal. She also had ten great, great grandchildren, Austin, Adelynn, Liam, and Levi White, Daniel, Isaac, and Rachel Dickman, Landon, Kaitlyn, and Ava Kiehn. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husbands, L.C. Patterson and Jay Gillilan. She also was preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond Seal and O.M. “Sonny” Seal, and by two sisters, Thelma Jones and Leola Collins. A graveside service was at 11 a.m. on December 6, at Plainview Memorial Park in Plainview, Texas, with her two sons, Jim and Larry, officiating. Granddaughter Lori Gillilan-Leal gave the eulogy. The family had a time of remembering on Saturday morning prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Mission Programs, 502 Fifth Street, Richmond, Texas 77469 or to Matthew 6:33 Foundation 4912 78th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79424.